Anyone MISS Being Big?

Ok, I know that this is "out there", but I've got to admit that I'm having trouble in certain situations now that I'm almost 100 pounds lighter than I have been for the past 15 years.

I've always been the biggest guy in the room. At 6'4" 350 pounds, I was an attraction. Not like an underwear model, more like a side show. People stared. This was always the norm. I used to feel uncomfortable, but over the years, I learned to like the attention. How vain is that?

Now, I blend in more than I ever have. I'm still tall, but in MN, 6'4" isn't huge.

Don't get me wrong, I love my success, and I'll never go back. I love the kind comments from people, but sometimes, I feel completely out of my element.

For example, last night, I went shopping for some new clothes. I can now shop in the regular sized section, no more Big and Tall. This is great! However, I'm standing there, thumbing through an absolute sea of pants and shirts and I could feel my world spinning. It was just too much to take in at once. When you're limited to the B&T section, you don't get that many choices. Shopping is easy.

I spent 3 hours looking for clothes at two stores. I bought two lousy shirts. When I got home, I felt like I had ridden the emotional roller coaster of my life.

I wasn't physically tired, and this isn't about shopping. I think this is something bigger.

Has anyone out there gone to a professional to help manage the new world they've entered because of drastic weight loss?

Again, don't get the wrong idea, I love the new me, I'll continue to lose, and I love the support I get on this site. I have to think that others have gone through what I'm beginning to experience.

Well, I have lost almost 70 pounds and even though I don't miss being fat it does anger me a great deal at times at how people do react to me now. It was like before I was invisible and now I get more doors opened for me, more people who will make small talk with me or people are just nicer. Now, I realize this is a good thing now but why do we as a society treat overweight people as non-existent. That is what makes me sad.

As a therapist, I know that so much of our identity for some of us is our ourtwards appearance. If we know we look better and feel better, it will definitely show.

I also know that for some of us choosing clothes is now a bigger ordeal. Now we have choices whereas before we wore what fit and that wasn't very much.

I do miss being able to eat anything I want and not worry about it later on the scales. My biggest adjustment has been the fear of gaining it back. I definitely know that if I eat off plan for more than a day at a time, I see it on the scale. I am not going back though. I like the new me way too much. I also love all the clothing choices...unfortunately my bank account doesn't.

LAWL keeps me happy in the right clothes. When I went off the plan and shot up from my 165-170 and in shape...to 200 and miserable, I realized how stoopid I was acting...getting used to eating whatever I wanted and spending 40 bucks a month on antacids...knowing there were all kinds of clothes with hidden wastebands and basically buying maternity shirts and potential tent clothes for men. I was headed for a Mu-Moo. I was feeling the Moo. I hope I can keep on a roll and get back to 170 soon. I loves me some skinny clothes and trying to buy shoes that are skinny! My feey swell when I eat the salty diet. Yuck. Congratulations on your new life kids. BW

I can relate to baileysmom2000 and how people pay more attention to me when I'm in shape and at the right weight. I figured out that is at or under 153 for me, not where I am right now. I get annoyed more with myself, though, which I know isn't healthy. I think sometimes I sabotage myself when I get under that because I turn heads and I get uncomfortable with the attention, I just dont' know what to do with it. I PREFER being a fly on the wall most of the time.

Love the food that loves you back.Take it one day at a time!-----------------------------------------